It was joy and ululations on Sunday at Christ’s cathedral Bugembe, the headquarters of Busoga Diocese as six new canons were installed including a woman and a lay leader.
Rev canon Rebecca Mudondo is the first female Reveland in the history of Busoga Diocese since its inception in 1972 to become a canon.
In a rare scenario, the chairman of the lay leaders in the province of the church of Uganda Samwiri Wakhooli was also installed a canon. He also becomes the first person to become a canon before or without being ordained a deacon or reveland.
The installation follows a thorough scrutiny by the Bishop of Busoga Diocese Rt Rev Dr Michael Kyomya (In picture) in which he ascertained that six of his juniors were moving right with the service to the Lord and canonical laws there by elevating them to the level of canons.
Others who were installed are; Rev Canon David Kaluya, the Diocesan Secretary, Ven Rev Patrick Mutalwa, the archdeacon of Iganga archdeaconry, Ven Rev John Bamugemereire, the archdeacon of Namutumba archdeaconry and Ven Rev Thomas Mwandha, the archdeacon of Kyando archdeaconry.
The installation of a woman clergy as a canon was received with excitement from members of Christian women fellowship and mothers union saying it’s a breakthrough in the church.
“We now look forward to having a female Bishop; her installation gives us hope that God is using us women too” Florence Mutyabule, the president Mothers union said.
Mutyabule who is also the woman Member of Paliament for Namutumba district added that, “it has been haunting me to hear female canons from other Dioceses with none in my home Dioceses”
The Bishop of Bukedi Diocese, Rt Rev Samuel George Bogere Egesa who was the preacher of the day implored the new canons and the entire congregation to live an exemplary life spiritually as mature people.
“You are now deemed mature in the spirit and therefore all people will focus onto you to emulate your good deeds for your father in heaven to be praised” the Bishop said quoting the bible in I Corinthians 13:11
Samson Kawuzi, the youth chairperson in the Diocese welcomed the canonization of non reveland as an inspiration to Christians to being faithful and loyal to canonical laws.
“It sets a new precedence that anyone can be recognized for his or distinguished exemplary living in church regardless of whether ordained or not” Kawuzi said.
Canon is the title given to a cleric who is a member of a cathedral and derives from the fact that he is bound by the rules or canons of that cathedral.
RDC of Jinja Richard Gulume Balyainho speaking on behalf of government commended the church for molding and nurturing believers into good and friendly citizens.
He however condemned laziness saying a lot is still desired for all people to engage in income generating activities to improve household incomes and being sensitized on their responsibilities.
